Government launches 'Home of 2030' design competition

UK Housing Minister Christopher Pincher has announced a landmark contest to design new 'homes fit for the future'.

The competition – organised by the RIBA with support from the Building Research Establishment and the Design Council – seeks proposals for high-quality, low-carbon and age-friendly homes which could be rolled out to boost quality of life for the country's growing elderly population.

It aims to recognise the 'highest standards of age-adaptable design' and follows the government's recent consultation on a Future Homes Standard, which would require all new homes built from 2025 to have 80 per cent less carbon emissions.

Six shortlisted teams will each receive £40,000 to draw up detailed, site-specific plans for 100 homes in a growth area outside London. Three winners will be invited to work with Homes England development partners to explore the possibility of developing bids for a series of government-owned plots.

Pincher said: "This competition will harnass all that technology has to offer to bring in a housing revolution: new low carbon homes that deliver low energy bills and independent living for older generations.

"The new gold standard of building will have the future in mind – not just the United Kingdom, but worldwide."

Elli Thomas, lead programme manager on the Home of 2030 project at the Design Council, said: "We will all want different things from our homes in the future, but this means new ideas and innovation now to make it happen, Sustainability, accessibility, affordability and health have been big themes from our public engagement work so far.

"There is a huge amount of sector knowledge in these areas already, so we want to encourage entries from right across the built environment community – not just architectural practices of every size but modular homes pioneers, larger housebuilders, contractors, designers, innovators and other supply chain partners. If you haven't considered entering an architectural competition previously, this could be the one for you."

Christopher Pincher became the 10th housing minister since 2010 following the departure of Esther McVey in last month's ministerial clear-out. At the start of February, protesters demonstrated outside the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) against the 'unambitious' new Part L, which covers conservation of fuel and power in the home, and Part F, which relates to ventilation.

According to the government, the regulatory changes form part of its strategy to create a Future Homes Standard by 2025, aimed at encouraging low-carbon heating and creating 'world-leading levels of energy efficiency'. The alterations to the Regs are seen as a milestone towards the government's target of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

However, campaigners say the proposed new standards fall woefully short, adding that Future Homes Standard did not consider the embodied carbon of buildings. There are concerns too, about a move to strip forward-thinking local authorities of their powers to set higher energy efficiency standard.

Proposals for the 'Homes for 2030' design contest must appeal to a wide variety of age groups and deliver adaptable solutions suitable for the changing needs of residents as they grow older. Schemes should also promote better health and wellbeing while harnessing innovative technology and construction techniques to deliver net-zero carbon emissions.

Anonymous phase one submissions must offer low embodied carbon in their construction and supply chain, harness low carbon technologies, and aim for minimal energy demand through fabric and system efficiency. Phase two submissions must consider fabric and system efficiency attributes, efficient and responsible sourcing, material efficiency and whole life carbon reduction, and predict anticipated performance in-use.

The second round will focus on a proposed parcel of up to 100 homes in a growth area outside the capital. Concepts 'must respond to local distinctiveness and provide opportunity for community cohesion' and include a typical street frontage for around 12 homes with detailed configurations for at least two different typologies.

The competition aims to identify concepts which are highly deliverable and scalable so they can be 'rolled-out across the country'. Applications will be judged 60 per cent on response to the brief, 25 per cent on overall quality, and 15 per cent on creativity and innovation.

The deadline for applications is 15 April.

Visit the competition website for more information on how to apply

_{Article source: Architects' Journal}